To the group of people walking maskless on the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah—you know who you are—causing us to have to climb onto people’s front lawns in order to safely pass; and all the others walking the streets maskless; and the adults who allow their kids to play ball in groups maskless in the streets. To all of the people who just spent hours davening and learning, just a few questions:

What gives you the right to put yourselves and others (especially those of us in vulnerable groups) at risk for COVID-19, especially after praying for rachamim?

What happened to the concept of kol yisrael arayvim zeh bazeh?

Are the entreaties of our rabbis and educators meaningless to you? Do you not realize that your actions, or inactions, jeopardize our community and schools?

Do all the precautions for davening in tents disappear as soon as you leave them, when you come in contact with others not in your group?

During this time of Aseret Yemei Teshuvah and Cheshbon HaNefesh, please ask yourselves, “What are my family and I doing to protect others?”